Kuchinoshima cattle

Kuchinoshima
Kuchinoshima cattle in Higashiyama Zoo
Conservation statusFAO (2007): critical-maintained
Other namesJapanese: 口之島牛
Kuchinoshima ushi
Country of originJapan
DistributionKuchinoshima Island, Yamaguchi
Usemeat
Traits
Weight
  • Male:
    400 kg
Height
  • Male:
    110 cm
  • Female:
    100 cm
Coatvariable
Horn statushorned in both sexes

The Kuchinoshima (Japanese: 口之島牛, Kuchinoshima ushi) is a critically-endangered Japanese breed of small feral cattle. It is found only on Kuchinoshima Island, in the Tokara Islands in Kagoshima Prefecture in southern Japan. It is one of six native Japanese cattle breeds, and one of two small populations that have never been cross-bred with Western cattle, the other being the Mishima breed from Mishima Island north-west of Hagi, in Yamaguchi Prefecture.:51